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The Doctrine of the Person of The Deity of Christ

1. Christ’s pre-existence revealed in Scripture

John 1:1-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with , and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 17:5

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Phil. 2:5-8

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ :

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 2

2. Direct Scriptural Claims to Deity a. The Word God (theos) Used of Christ John 1:1 The Word was God John 1:18 God the One and Only (NIV) John 20:28 “My Lord and My God” Romans 9:5 God over all Titus 2:13 Our great God and Savior Hebrews 1:8 “Your throne O God” 2 Peter 1:1 Our God & Savior (see 1:11;2:20; 3:18) b. The Word Lord () Used of Christ [used 6,814 times in Greek transl. of OT for Hebrew name “Jehovah/Yahweh,” “the Lord”] Luke 2:11 a Savior, who is Christ the Lord Luke 1:43 the mother of my Lord Matthew 3:3 Prepare the way of the Lord Matthew 22:44 The Lord said to my Lord 1 Cor. 8:6 One Lord, Jesus Christ Heb. 1:10-12 You, Lord, founded the earth many more times in epistles c. Other Strong Claims to Deity John 8:57-58 “I am who I am” Rev. 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega John 1:1 the Word was God Acts 7:56 “the Son of Man” Matt. 26:64 seated at right hand of power Heb. 1:2-3 “” [see all of Hebrews 1]

3. Evidence that Jesus Possessed Attributes of Deity

Matthew 8:26-27 stilling the storm 3

Matthew 14:19 loaves and fish John 2:1-11 water to wine John 8:58 eternity :13 Alpha and Omega Mark 2:8 Omniscience John 1:48; 6:64; 2:25; 16:30 Omniscience Matthew 18:20; 28:20 Omnipresence Mark 2:5-7 Sovereignty John 2:19; 10:17-18 Immortality Hebrews 7:16 an indestructible life Philippians 2:9-11 worthy to be worshiped

4. Did Jesus Give up some of His Divine Attributes While on Earth? Philippians 2:6-8 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

a. called the “Kenosis Theory” (Greek kenoō = “empty”) b. claimed from Philippians 2:5-7 c. But: early church did not understand it this way d. Text does not say emptied Himself of divine attributes e. Text says emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant f. Purpose is to encourage humility (imitate Christ) g. Larger context of NT doctrine does not support

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5. Conclusion: Christ is Fully Divine

Colossians 1:19 in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell Colossians 2:9 in Him the whole fullness of Deity dwells bodily Matthew 1:23 Immanuel, God with us

6. Why is Jesus’ Deity Necessary?

Matthew 28:19 because of Scriptures revelation of the the Triune God Jonah 2:9 Salvation is from the Lord (no one else could bear penalty for our sins) Joel 2:32/Romans 10:9-13 salvation comes from calling on the LORD 1 Timothy 2:5 Only someone truly and fully God could be the one mediator John 14:9 Only God could reveal God most fully and bring us back to God 2 John 9 “Anyone who...does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God”

7. Application of Jesus’ Deity

A. Call on the Lord and be saved B. Surrender your whole life to Him as an act of worship C. Trust in Him with all your heart D. Love Him supremely and obey Him completely